Hunan Province: Kiwifruits of Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie is full of wonderful flowers and rare herbs, but the mountain is most famous for its maple trees. The kiwifruits are ripe when they change color, lending the mountain a crimson look. Visitors can relax in this fabulous landscape while eating the ripe fruits.
Transportation: Drive from Changsha on Zhangchang Highway to Changde City and then keep driving to Zhangjiajie. The whole journey will take about 12 hours.
Delicacies: Zhangjiajie's local cuisine from the Tujia ethnic minority is recommended, and "Sanxiaguo" is a must-eat dish all year round.
Shangdong Province: Winter-dates of Mountain Tai
Mount Tai's claim to fame during the autumn is the winter-date. The winter-dates of Zhanhua are distinctly sweet, juicy, incredibly crisp, and seldom leave your hands sticky. The dates will drop to the ground after maturing. Zhanhua, a nearby county in east China's Shandong Province, holds the Winter-date Festival every year. The festival always attracts various painters and photographers trying to capture the charm of winter-date gardens. Visitors can have a winter-date feast while enjoying the works of the artists.
Delicacies: Cabbage, tofu and water are called "the three beauties of Mount Tai." There are more than 150 dishes of tofu commonly prepared in this region. Dishes of Taian flavor are also well-known, including Taian battercakes, roasted sweet potatoes, fired Chiling Fish, and ya-dates of Mountain Tai.
Shopping: Peaches of Feicheng, chestnuts of Mount Tai and big dates are called "the top three specialties of Mount Tai."
Hebei Province: A Fruit Fiesta on Yesanpo Mountain
Yesanpo Mountain is generally known as the "green pearl of the Mt. Taihang ranges." The main peak of Yesanpo Mountain is 1983 meters high. Its sister mountain is Baihua Mountain of Beijing. Various fruit trees planted by the residents give the mountain a colorful view during harvest season. Visitors can pick persimmons, walnuts and dates along the paths of the local village.
Transportation: Take the Yesanpo special train from Beijing to Yesanpo Mountain.
Specialties: Yesanpo Mountain is rich in almonds, pecans and peppers. Huanglin Wine, which is made with Yugu Spring water, is one of the region's most famous specialties.